North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation approves financing to Pawsitive Identity K9 Services

Funding to support specialty business started during pandemic

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), the economic development arm of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce recently approved a $15,000 loan to Pawsitive Identity K9 Services in Hubbardston. Owned by Thomas and Nina Welch, Pawsitive Identity K9 Services works directly with hotels and apartment complexes to identify bedbugs and collaborates with pest control companies for remediation. The loan will support the purchase, certification and training of dogs to detect bedbugs and support local pest control companies.

Tom Welch was a K9 officer for 21 years with the Worcester County Sheriff Department, where he trained and worked with several dogs during his career. When Tom retired from his K9 duties, a local pest control company recruited him to work with the company-owned dog that specialized in detecting bedbugs. At the onset of the pandemic, the company eliminated the bedbug detecting part of the business but offered Tom the company dog. Soon thereafter, Tom started his own business during the pandemic with the help of his wife, Nina, and together, they have steadily expanded their customer base.

“Nina and I started Pawsitive Identity K9 Services during the pandemic and this loan facilitated the purchase of a new dog, Charlie, to complement the work of current K9 Kirby,” said Tom Welch. “Kirby is getting older, and Charlie was recently acquired with the loan funds, which will also be used to train and certify Charlie and allow us to prepare for Kirby’s eventual retirement.”

“Thanks to the financial assistance and support from the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, we have fulfilled a dream to open our own business and deliver an important service to our local community,” Welch said.   For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/pawsitiveidentityK9.

As a microloan lender, NCMDC can provide loans to small businesses up to $250,000 for working capital, real estate, equipment, inventory, expansion and working with our banking partners to provide gap financing for the final piece of a project.

For more information about the NCMDC loan programs, please call 978.353.7607 or visit NorthCentralMass.com or ChooseNorthCentral.com.